Scottish Executive

Cancer

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10083 by Susan Deacon on 24 October 2000, whether the standard set by the Clinical Standards Board of one breast care nurse per 150 breast cancers has been reviewed and, if so, what the outcome was.

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the standard set by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland for the number of breast care nurses is being met by each NHS board and trust.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Clinical Standards Board for Scotland have recently carried out assessments of breast cancer services across Scotland on which a national report is expected to be published early in 2002.

Cancer

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses were employed as breast care nurses by each NHS Trust in (a) 1999-2000, and (b) 2000-01.

Malcolm Chisholm: Breast care nurses are employed by NHS Trusts. Information on the numbers employed by each trust can be obtained from individual trusts. The names and addresses of all trusts are available on the Scottish Health on the Web site at www.show.scot.nhs.uk.

Cancer

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many mammogram screening units used in NHS hospitals are over 10 years old.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Breast Screening Programme (SBSP) currently has two x-ray mammography machines that are over 10 years old (12 years) but by the end of this financial year all x-ray mammography units in the SBSP will have new generation x-ray mammography equipment which is under 10 years old.

  Information is not held centrally about individual items of equipment within NHS hospitals. This information is available directly from NHS Trusts. Names and contact details of Chief Executives are available from www.show.scot.nhs.uk.

Central Heating

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been made to date for free central heating installation in the Highland Council area under its Central Heating Programme how many of these applications have been processed; how many installations have been carried out, and how many have been refused on grounds of cost.

Iain Gray: There have been 255 applications from the relevant postcode area. 170 of these are eligible and are to receive their package of measures shortly. Another 46 applications are to be assessed. No applications for the Central Heating Programme are rejected on grounds of cost.

Central Heating

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19430 by Jackie Baillie on 25 November 2001, how many households have benefited from its Central Heating Programme to date.

Iain Gray: Eaga have installed 208 central heating systems in the private sector and are on target to install 3,550 systems by 31 March. Information is currently being collected in the social rented sector. All indications show that local authorities and housing associations are also on target to install central heating systems in around 6,800 dwellings by 31 March.

Central Heating

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been made to date for free central heating installation in the Scottish Borders area under its Central Heating Programme; how many of these applications have been authorised, and how many installations have been carried out.

Iain Gray: There have been 116 applications from the Borders area. Seventy-three of these are eligible and are to receive their package of measures shortly.

Elderly People

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions, or intends to have discussions, with Her Majesty’s Government on the issue of the potential for "cold callers" to exploit elderly people and people suffering from dementia and other mental health problems.

Hugh Henry: Consumer protection is a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including consumer protection.

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what statistical information which is presently confidential it plans to release as a result of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill.

Mr Jim Wallace: It is not possible to predict what information will be made available as a result of the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill. Consideration of whether requested information would be disclosed will be on a case-by-case basis.

  The bill will, if enacted, establish a statutory right of access to all information held by a wide range of Scottish public authorities. The right of access would be enforced by an independent Scottish Information Commissioner, who would consider appeals and have powers to order the disclosure of information. The bill would replace the non-statutory Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information.

  In relation to information held by the Scottish Administration relating to the formulation or development of policy, the bill provides that, once a policy decision has been taken, any statistical information used to provide an informed background to that decision is not to be regarded as exempt from disclosure.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that prevention of, and rehabilitation from, major injury receives a high profile in the interests of public health.

Malcolm Chisholm: Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change confirmed the Executive’s commitment to working with others to move the focus of health policy and health services from treatment to prevention.

  While occupational health and safety is a reserved matter, it has a strong bearing on many devolved areas, such as health, local government, transport and the environment. The Executive has been tackling this broad agenda in partnership with the UK government, Scottish local authorities, NHSScotland, the CBI, the TUC, the Federation of Small Businesses, the British Chambers of Commerce, Scotland’s Health at Work, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and others. This joint activity includes, for example, the Revitalising Health and Safety initiative; Securing Health Together - a long-term occupational strategy for Scotland, England and Wales; Towards a Safer, Healthier Workplace, the occupational health and safety strategy for NHSScotland, and Tomorrow’s Roads - safer for everyone, a strategy to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents in Great Britain by 40% by 2010. The Health and Safety Executive is also contributing to the Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot, led by the Department of Work and Pensions.

Health

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on prescribing infliximab in each of the last three years, broken down by health board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16712 on 1 August 2001.

Historic Buildings

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what grounds were given by Historic Scotland when seeking ministerial approval to grant consent to the application by the John Muir Birthplace Trust to make alterations to the John Muir birthplace in Dunbar, a listed building.

Mike Watson: Listed Building Consent for the works at the John Muir Birthplace in Dunbar has not been granted by Scottish ministers; consent for the works has been given by East Lothian Council as planning authority.

  Prior to issuing the consent, East Lothian Council notified the application to ministers under the requirements of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997. Notification permits ministers to consider whether an application raises issues, such as national planning policy matters, which merit its being called-in for determination by them rather than the planning authority. In this instance, ministers decided on the basis of the information before them, including advice from their officials in Historic Scotland, that it would be appropriate to leave the decision on the application to East Lothian Council. Advice given by civil servants to ministers is confidential.

Historic Buildings

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what weight was given to (a) the scheme as notified to East Lothian Council including overseas objections and (b) the objection submitted by the Scottish Civic Trust in particular when considering the request by Historic Scotland to grant consent to the application by the John Muir Trust to alter the John Muir birthplace in Dunbar.

Mike Watson: Scottish ministers did not grant consent for the works to the John Muir Birthplace in Dunbar. Consent was given by East Lothian Council as planning authority. The decision not to call in the application for decision by ministers was made after careful study of the relevant issues.

Historic Buildings

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why it approved alterations to the John Muir birthplace in Dunbar, a listed building, without holding a public enquiry or further public consultation.

Mike Watson: The application for Listed Building Consent for the proposed alterations to the John Muir Birthplace in Dunbar was granted consent by East Lothian Council as planning authority, not Scottish ministers. Following routine notification of the application to ministers by the council and full consideration of the relevant issues, ministers determined that they were content to leave the decision on the application to the council.

Hospitals

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what requests it has received for funding for research into the early discharge of patients with drains still in place (a) after all surgery and (b) after breast cancer surgery in 2000-01.

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be research commissioned into analysing any extra pressures placed on the primary care sector as a result of patients being discharged early from hospital with drains still in place.

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding will be made available to assist with any extra workload for primary care services following any possible adoption throughout all NHS trusts and boards of the measures subject to the pilot study at Ninewells Hospital in respect of nurse-led early discharge of patients with drains still in place.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health services and patient care within the NHS in Scotland.

  CSO received no requests for funding research into these issues during 2000-01.

  A three-year research project funded by CSO’s Health Services Research Committee is under way, based at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. A randomised controlled trial to evaluate a specialist nurse-led model of early discharge from hospital following axillary clearance surgery for breast cancer will measure impact on patients and carers, cost effectiveness, efficacy and acceptability from primary and secondary care perspectives. This project is due to end in December 2002.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on its discussions with the European Commission regarding the future of grants for owner occupation (GRO grants).

Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20386 on 29 November 2001.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Scottish Homes invested in (a) urban and (b) rural housing in each year from 1996-97 to 2000-01 in real terms and what Scottish Homes and Communities Scotland’s planned investment is in each year from 2001-02 to 2003-04.

Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Scottish Homes and Communities Scotland’s investment in urban and rural areas in the period 1996-97 to 2003-04, in 2000-01 real terms is as follows:

  


Scottish Homes Development Programme – Urban 
  & Rural Capital Expenditure
(1996-97 to 2002-03) 
  






Rural 
  

Urban 
  



Year 
  

£ million 
  

£ million 
  



1996-97 
  

61.5 
  

262.6 
  



1997-98 
  

43.4 
  

171.7 
  



1998-99 
  

37.9 
  

162.3 
  



1999-2000 
  

42.7 
  

162.4 
  



2000-01 
  

44.4 
  

163.0 
  



2001-021


48.3 
  

146.9 
  



2002-03 
  

tbc 
  

tbc 
  



2003-04 
  

tbc 
  

tbc 
  



  Note:

  1. Estimate.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the suspension of new approvals within the grants for owner occupation programme would have on the owner occupied sector.

Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20386 on 29 November 2001.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why Scottish Homes/Communities Scotland investment on owner occupied properties will fall from £29.571 million in 2001-01 to £16.539 million in 2001-02 as identified in Scottish Homes Investment Programme 2001-02 and what impact this reduction will have on the owner occupied sector.

Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  This reflects increased ministerial priority for the provision of affordable rented housing and the temporary suspension of the Grants for Rent or Owner Occupation programme. There will be around 500 fewer units for owner occupation approved in 2001-02 than in 2000-01, with the expenditure released being redirected to the rented programme.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why Glasgow and North Clyde Region of Scottish Homes/Communities Scotland has reduced its investment from £78.406 million in 2000-01 to £75.115 million in 2001-02 as identified in Scottish Homes Investment Programme 2001-02 and what impact this reduction will have on the quality of housing provision.

Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Glasgow and North Clyde Regional programme is developed in close consultation with partners and reflects a broad range of existing partnership arrangements. Programmes are based upon local housing market and needs analysis to identify, consistent with strategy, the demands, needs and opportunities for housing investment and to ensure the continued provision of high quality housing.

Justice

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total number of (a) sheriffs and (b) judges is and how many of each are women.

Mr Jim Wallace: There are currently 133 sheriffs, of whom 20 are female. Of the 32 Judges of the Supreme Courts, three are female.

Ministerial Code

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is against the Scottish Ministerial Code for ministers to comment on the conduct of those charged with offences whose cases have not been dealt with by the courts.

Mr Jack McConnell: There is no reference to this in the Scottish Ministerial Code.

Ministerial Correspondence

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter to the First Minister of 11 July 2001 about action to combat sectarianism in football.

Mr Jack McConnell: My response to the member’s letter was issued on 19 December 2001.

Public Transport

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place with officials of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority in the last year and what was discussed at any such meetings.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive meet representatives of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority and Executive regularly to discuss a range of issues affecting public transport in their area.

Public Transport

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation has been carried out in order to determine whether Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority (SPT) has been meeting its statutory duties and what effect the current funding arrangements have had on SPT’s ability to do so.

Lewis Macdonald: No such evaluation has been carried out.

Renewable Energy

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise have spent on measures aimed at expanding the renewable energy sector in each year for which figures are available.

Ross Finnie: The amount spent by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on measures to expand the renewable energy sector since 1999 and committed until 2004 is around £700,000. This excludes expenditure on business development cases where Local Enterprise Companies have provided assistance to renewable energy related projects, such as the significant assistance to the Vestas project to assist that company establish a wind turbine manufacturing facility in Argyll.

  The cumulative spend on the renewable energy sector by Scottish Enterprise over the last three years, plus that already approved for 2002-03, is in excess of £1 million. This includes the cost of encouraging Scottish companies to diversify into renewable energy opportunities in general, through a series of seminars/roadshows which reached 160 companies.

Renewable Energy

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it is taking to support the installation of more solar heating systems in Scotland.

Ross Finnie: The funding of research and development with respect to renewable energy is a reserved matter; the budget is held by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). But we work hard to ensure that Scottish companies and other bodies with an interest in this field are made aware of the availability of this funding, and are encouraged to develop good quality proposals. The results of the second call for proposals from the domestic solar and photovoltaics field trial were announced by DTI recently, with four out of the 18 successful UK projects located in Scotland.

Renewable Energy

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed, or plans to assess, the potential energy savings and contribution to the reduction of climate change gases resulting from an increase in the use of solar technology for domestic heating purposes.

Ross Finnie: Whilst no such assessment has been carried out, the Executive’s commitment to promoting renewable energy embraces a wide spectrum of technologies. We will continue, working within a UK framework for energy research and development, to encourage support for a range of renewable technologies in Scotland, including solar heating.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20400 by Lewis MacDonald on 10 December 2001, why it did not give its reasons for preventing Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR (Scotland) Ltd from responding directly to enquiries from MSPs and MPs as requested and when it will do so.

Lewis Macdonald: The reason for not permitting the Operating Companies from responding directly to enquiries from MSPs and MPs was made clear in my answer to question S1W-20400. This condition was included in the contract to clearly define areas of responsibility between the Scottish Executive and the Operating Companies in respect of dealings with MSPs and MPs.

Roads

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) gritters and (b) snow blowers and how many other types of machinery were available for use on trunk roads in the Fife area on (i) 10 December 2001, (ii) 3 December 2001, (iii) 26 November 2001 and (iv) the same dates in 2000.

Lewis Macdonald: Scottish Executive records indicate that the number of dedicated gritters available for use on trunk roads in the Fife area on the dates requested are as follows:

  


Date 
  

Gritter Numbers 
  

Date 
  

Gritter Numbers 
  



26 November 2000 
  

5 
  

26 November 2001 
  

5 
  



3 December 2000 
  

5 
  

3 December 2001 
  

5 
  



10 December 2000 
  

5 
  

10 December 2001 
  

6 
  



  Both the previous and current trunk road operator had/have access to resources in addition to dedicated gritters for the trunk roads.

  Snowblowers are likely to be required less often on the trunk roads in the Fife area and therefore no snowblowers are dedicated to these routes. However, both the previous and current trunk road operators had/have access to such equipment if required.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to monitor the performance of BEAR Scotland Ltd over the winter months.

Lewis Macdonald: The Performance Audit Group (PAG) is appointed by the Scottish Executive to audit and monitor the activities of BEAR Scotland Ltd. BEAR’s physical performance is monitored and audited throughout the year by PAG’s Field Engineers. During winter months PAG pays particular attention to reviewing BEAR’s strategic planning as described in their Winter Maintenance Plan. This involves monitoring the management of BEAR’s plant and labour resources and the deployment of these resources. PAG communicates its observations to the Executive by means of various reports either periodically or as particular matters arise.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19992 by Lewis MacDonald on 11 December 2001, whether it will alter the trunk road maintenance contracts to allow Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR Scotland Ltd to answer enquiries from MSPs and MPs directly and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: There are currently no proposals to alter the trunk road maintenance contacts in this regard. The reason for the Scottish Executive’s position on this matter was given in my answer to question S1W-20400 on 10 December 2001.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has obtained in relation to the distribution of the Scottish Bus Group employee pension funds; whether these funds are liable to public general taxation and, if so, under what income and corporation taxes statutes or other statutory provisions; whether ex gratia payments made to former members of the fund are liable to tax and, if so, whether this applies in respect of payments in excess of £30,000 and, if so, at what rate.

Lewis Macdonald: It would be inappropriate for the Executive to provide information which would harm the frankness and candour of discussion and advice, including between the Scottish Executive and legal advisers.

  I can confirm that UK tax law applies on the wind-up of occupational pensions schemes, including the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes. The Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 applies. For tax purposes, beneficiaries will be responsible for reporting the receipt of the ex-gratia payments to the Inland Revenue in the normal manner. The tax payable on payments made to beneficiaries will depend on the personal tax circumstances of individuals.

Social Inclusion

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19548 by Jackie Baillie on 14 November 2001, what the 60 languages are and how many speakers of each language use it as their first language.

Iain Gray: This information is not held centrally. The report referred to in the previous answer is available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17796).

Teachers

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has with Glasgow City Council about planned teacher redundancies.

Nicol Stephen: The employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities. We have had no discussions with Glasgow City Council on this issue.